Momentum for Android Tablets continues to expand as the open source platform aims to drive greater, faster innovation in mobile services.
A typical Android Tablet PC comes equipped with 256MB of RAM and supports an extendable memory. Most tablets have a battery that supplies from 5 to 6 hours and are built in sizes from 5 inches to 10 inches, averaging 7 inches.
Google Android 7 Tablet
Research firm IDC says starting from a very small base of just 690,000 units in 2008, total Android-powered shipments will reach 68.0 million units by 2013, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 150.4 percent.
And a report from analyst firm Gartner states worldwide media tablet sales to end users will reach 19.5 million units in 2010, with strong growth predicted for 2011, an increase of 181 percent to 54.8 million units. The firm defines a media tablet as a slate device that supports touch and runs a lightweight operating system such as Android, WebOS or Meego.
While Google maintains it will currently focus on the consumer market, Google Android is expected to influence the enterprise mobile market as businesses can accommodate Android tablets and Android phone devices with hosted Exchange email.
Google enhanced Android email support in Version 2.0, allowing for unified management of multiple Google email accounts, hosted exchange email and Microsoft Exchange. Companies can now add the Android Tablets email to their employee options with Google Android and Microsoft Exchange Server.
Many Android tablets will soon reach consumers as companies that include Toshiba, Samsung and Archos, recently made their tablets known. NitroDesk, makers of TouchDown, an Exchange email client for Android, will be capable of delivering email on the tablets set to debut.
Toshiba recently unveiled the Folio 100 Tablet which features Android 2.2, a 10.1 inch display, support for Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11B/G/N and 3G capable. It also has an internal memory of 16GB and an expected 7 hour battery life.
Samsung's Android 2.2 tablet, the Galaxy Tab, runs on a 1GHz Arm processor and comes with a 7-inch screen. Samsung displays hosted exchange email in a single pane when the Galaxy Tab is in the narrower mode but expands to a two-pane view in the wider mode.
What's more ViewSonic recently rolled out two tablets, the ViewPad 100 and the ViewPad 7. The ViewPad 100 runs on an Intel Atom N455 processor at 1.66GHz and comes equipped with a 10-inch screen while the ViewPad 7 has a 7-inch screen and runs Android 2.2.